Series of bottles and bottle with logo panel

ABSTRACT

A series of hot-fill, PET bottles, includes a first bottle with a first volume and a first front profile; and a second bottle with a second volume and a second front profile. The first volume and the second volume are different and the first front profile and the second front profile are substantially the same.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.29/449,713, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Beverage bottle makers, e.g., for PET bottles, provide bottled beveragesfor different customers (e.g., individual consumers, the food serviceindustry and/or juice/beverage makers), and the different customers haveneeds for or expectations of different sized bottles. For example,individual consumers may prefer or expect a bottle that is sized forsixty-four fluid ounces of beverage whereas the food service industrymay prefer or expect a bottle that is sized for sixty fluid ounces ofbeverage. In the past, different sized bottles and/or bottles that weredirected to different customers were non-uniform in relation to sizeand/or shape as perceived by the customers. For example, see U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2010/0326951, where FIGS. 2-9 illustrate asixty-four fluid ounce bottle, FIGS. 10-16 illustrate a sixty fluidounce bottle, and FIGS. 17-21 illustrate a ninety-six fluid ouncebottle, each of which is incorporated by reference. Such visuallydistinct bottles could cause consumer confusion, especially beforelabeling takes place. Differently sized bottles also satisfy a need todifferentiate for different classes of trade, e.g., wholesale vs.retail.

Also, bottles exist with a region that is adapted to receive a label.Often, the region that receives the label is recessed.

A need has developed to address one or more shortcomings of the priorart.

SUMMARY

The present technology addresses the shortcomings of the prior art.

An aspect of the present technology includes a series of bottles ofdifferent capacities or internal volumes with identical or similarappearances when viewed from the same direction, e.g., when viewed fromthe front or the back. Such a series of bottles can provide benefitsrelated to brand identification across different size bottles.

An aspect of the present technology includes first and second bottleswith similar or identical lower side profiles and different upper sideprofiles. With two such bottles, similar or identical front or rearprofiles are possible while providing different capacities or internalvolumes.

An aspect of the present technology includes a panel in a grip portionof a bottle, where a periphery of the panel transitions from a firstrelatively raised edge to a first relatively recessed edge to secondrelatively raised edge to second relatively recessed edge and back tothe first relatively recessed edge. Such a panel can provide benefitsrelated to both gripping the bottle and application of a label on thepanel.

An aspect of the present technology is directed to a series of bottles(such as hot-fill, PET bottles), comprising a first bottle with a firstvolume and a first front profile; and a second bottle with a secondvolume and a second front profile, wherein the first volume and thesecond volume are different and the first front profile and the secondfront profile are substantially the same.

In examples, (a) the first front profile and the second front profileare approximately the same, (b) the first front profile and the secondfront profile are identical, (c) the first bottle comprises a first sideprofile, the second bottle comprises a second side profile, and thefirst side profile and the second side profile are different, (d) thefirst bottle comprises a first substantially rectangular cross-sectionalong an axial extent of the first bottle and the first front profilecorresponds to a longer side of the first substantially rectangularcross-section, the second bottle comprises a second substantiallyrectangular cross-section along an axial extent of the second bottle andthe second front profile corresponds to a longer side of the secondsubstantially rectangular cross-section, (e) the first front profile andthe first side profile are substantially perpendicular to one another,and the second front profile and the second side profile aresubstantially perpendicular to one another, (f) a first lower portion ofthe first side profile and a second lower portion of the second sideprofile are substantially the same, (g) the first lower portion extendsfrom a bottom of the first bottle to substantially half a height of thefirst bottle, and the second lower portion extends from a bottom of thesecond bottle to substantially half a height of the second bottle, (h) afirst lower portion of the first side profile and a second lower portionof the second side profile are identical, (i) the first lower portionextends from a bottom of the first bottle to substantially half a heightof the first bottle, and the second lower portion extends from a bottomof the second bottle to substantially half a height of the secondbottle, (j) the first bottle has an internal volume that is about 64fluid ounces, and the second bottle has an internal volume that is about60 fluid ounces, (k) the first bottle comprises a first neck and a firstbody, the second bottle comprises a second neck and a second body, andthe first body and the second body are substantially rectangular alongentire axial extents thereof, (l) the first bottle comprises a firstlower portion, the second bottle comprises a second lower portion andthe first lower portion and the second lower portion have a same volumeand a same height, and/or (m) the same height is about half a height ofeach bottle.

Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a plasticcontainer (such as a hot-fill, PET bottle) comprising a grip portion.The grip portion comprises a panel adapted to present at least one of alogo and a label. A periphery of the panel comprises: two recessedportions that are recessed relative to a surrounding portion of the gripportion, two raised portions that are raised relative to the surroundingportion of the grip portion, and four inflection points that are neitherrecessed nor raised relative to the surrounding portion of the gripportion. Each recessed portion of the two recessed portions is adjacentto both of the two raised portions, and the four inflection points areeach disposed between one recessed portion and one raised portion, andthe surrounding portion of the grip portion adjoins the panel.

In examples, (a) the panel is between a center of gravity of the plasticcontainer and an opening adapted to receive a cap, (b) the two recessedportions are an upper portion and a lower portion of the periphery andthe two raised portions are lateral portions of the periphery, (c) thepanel is adapted to receive a label secured by adhesive, (d) the panelincludes an integrally molded logo, (e) the panel is substantially flatinterior to the periphery, (f) the panel is slightly convex interior tothe periphery, (g) the panel is substantially flat interior to theperiphery and in a horizontal direction, and slightly convex interior tothe periphery and in a vertical direction, (h) the bottle furthercomprises a second panel on an opposite side of the plastic containerfrom the panel, the panel and the second panel being substantially thesame, (i) the bottle further comprises a body that comprises the gripportion, wherein the body is substantially rectangular along an entireaxial extent thereof, (j) the panel is designed to accommodate at leasta portion of internal forces tending to collapse the plastic containerinwardly due to filling of the plastic container with a liquid at anelevated temperature and subsequent cooling of the liquid, (k) the gripis designed to accommodate at least a portion of internal forces tendingto collapse the plastic container inwardly due to filling of the plasticcontainer with a liquid at an elevated temperature and subsequentcooling of the liquid, (l) the panel is substantially planar, (m) theplastic container further comprises a ledge adjacent to a bottom portionof the panel, wherein the ledge transitions continuously from the panelto an outermost vertical wall of the plastic container by way of arelatively straight portion adjacent to the panel to a rounded portionthat smoothly transitions to the outermost vertical wall of the plasticcontainer, and/or (n) the panel is substantially flat in a verticaldirection and forms an angle between 0° and 30° with the verticaldirection.

Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a method ofmanufacturing a plastic container (such as a hot-fill, PET bottle) witha grip portion with a panel adapted to present at least one of a logoand a label. The method comprises forming two recessed portions of thepanel that are recessed relative to a surrounding portion of the gripportion, forming two raised portions of the panel that are raisedrelative to the surrounding portion of the grip portion, and formingfour inflection points that are neither recessed nor raised relative tothe surrounding portion of the grip portion. Each recessed portion ofthe two recessed portions is formed adjacent to both of the two raisedportions. The four inflection points are each formed between onerecessed portion and one raised portion. The surrounding portion of thegrip portion is formed to adjoin the panel.

In examples, (a) a label is applied to the panel, (b) a second panel isformed on an opposite side of the plastic container and substantiallythe same as the panel, (c) a logo is molded on the panel, and/or (d) thepanel is formed to be substantially planar.

Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a method ofdisplaying a first bottle and a second bottle (such as hot-fill, PETbottles), the first bottle having a first volume and a first displayprofile and the second bottle having a second volume different from thefirst volume and a second display profile that is substantially the sameas the first display profile. The method comprises displaying the firstbottle and the second bottle on one or more shelves such that a bottomof the first bottle and a bottom of the second bottle are supported onthe one or more shelves, and orienting first bottle so that the firstdisplay profile is displayed, and orienting the second bottle so thatthe second display profile is displayed.

Another aspect of the present technology is directed to plasticcontainer (such as a hot-fill, PET bottle) comprising a body portionhaving a top portion and a bottom portion; the top portion including agrip portion and a grip edge provided along at least an upper side ofthe grip portion; and the bottom portion comprising a base portion and aplurality of vacuum panels. The top portion includes less than fortypercent of a total internal volume of the plastic container.

In examples, (a) the top portion is between thirty three percent andthirty nine percent of the total internal volume, (b) the bottom portionis at least forty percent of a height of the plastic container, (c) thebottom portion is approximately forty eight percent of a height of theplastic container, (d) the bottom portion has substantially verticalwalls, (e) the body portion has a substantially rectangular crosssection all along a vertical axis of the body, (f) the container furthercomprises a transition shoulder where the top portion and the bottomportion meet, (g) the grip portion comprises a label portion with afirst horizontal cross sectional area through a middle of the labelportion, the bottom portion comprises a second cross sectional areathrough a middle of the bottom portion, and a ratio of the first crosssectional area to the second cross sectional area is between 6/10 and9/10, (h) the ratio is between 7/10 and 8/10, (i) the ratio is about3/4, (j) a center of gravity of the plastic container is locatedsubstantially where the top portion and the bottom portion meet, and/or(k) the top portion transitions from the bottom portion to a neckportion, the neck portion being adapted to receive a cap.

Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a plasticcontainer (such as a hot-fill PET bottle) comprising: a grip portioncomprising a panel adapted to present a logo and/or a label, and a firstrib that is substantially vertical when viewed from a side of theplastic container that includes the grip portion. The first rib isdisposed to extend from a bottom edge of the grip portion towards abottom of the plastic container.

In examples, (a) the panel is between a center of gravity of the plasticcontainer and an opening adapted to receive a cap, (b) the containerfurther comprises a second rib extending from the bottom edge of thegrip portion towards the bottom of the plastic container, (c) the firstrib and the second rib are substantially symmetrical with respect to oneanother about a vertical centerline of the panel, (d) the containerfurther comprises a second grip portion on an opposite side of theplastic container from the grip portion, the grip portion and the secondgrip portion being substantially the same, and a third rib and a fourthrib, the first rib and the second rib being substantially the same asthe third rib and the fourth rib, respectively, (e) the containerfurther comprises a vacuum panel below the grip portion, and a shoulderdisposed between the grip portion and the vacuum panel, wherein thefirst rib and the second rib extend from the grip portion, through theshoulder, and towards the vacuum panel, (f) the shoulder has a firstheight between the first rib and the second rib and a second heightoutside of the first rib and the second rib, wherein height is along avertical axis of the plastic container, (g) the first height is lessthan the second height, (h) the shoulder has a first thickness betweenthe first rib and the second rib and a second thickness outside of thefirst rib and the second rib, wherein thickness is along a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the vacuum panel, the first thickness isless than the second thickness, (i) the panel is adapted to receive alabel secured by adhesive, (j) the panel includes an integrally moldedlogo, (k) the container further comprises a body that comprises the gripportion, wherein the body is substantially rectangular along an entireaxial extent thereof, (l) the panel is designed to accommodate at leasta portion of internal forces tending to collapse the plastic containerinwardly due to filling of the plastic container with a liquid at anelevated temperature and subsequent cooling of the liquid, (m) thecontainer further comprises a vacuum panel below the grip portion,wherein the first rib extends from the grip portion towards the vacuumpanel, and/or (n) the container further comprises a second rib similarto the first rib, wherein the first rib and the second rib arehorizontally and inwardly offset from respective horizontal outer edgesof the panel.

Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a series ofbottles, comprising: a first bottle with a first volume and a firstfront profile; and a second bottle with a second volume and a secondfront profile, wherein the first volume and the second volume aredifferent and the first front profile and the second front profile aresubstantially the same.

In examples, (a) the first front profile and the second front profileare approximately the same, (b) the first bottle comprises a first sideprofile, the second bottle comprises a second side profile, and thefirst side profile and the second side profile are different, (c) thefirst bottle comprises a first substantially rectangular profile whenviewed from a top view, and the first front profile corresponds to alonger side of the first substantially rectangular profile, the secondbottle comprises a second substantially rectangular profile when viewedfrom a top view, and the second front profile corresponds to a longerside of the second substantially rectangular profile, (d) the firstfront profile and the first side profile are substantially perpendicularto one another, and the second front profile and the second side profileare substantially perpendicular to one another, (e) a first lowerportion of the first side profile and a second lower portion of thesecond side profile are substantially the same, (f) the first lowerportion extends from a bottom of the first bottle to substantially halfa height of the first bottle, and the second lower portion extends froma bottom of the second bottle to substantially half a height of thesecond bottle, (g) a first lower portion of the first side profile and asecond lower portion of the second side profile are identical, (h) thefirst lower portion extends from a bottom of the first bottle tosubstantially half a height of the first bottle, and the second lowerportion extends from a bottom of the second bottle to substantially halfa height of the second bottle, (i) the first bottle comprises a firstneck and a first body, the second bottle comprises a second neck and asecond body, and the first body and the second body are substantiallyrectangular along vertical extents thereof when viewed from above thefirst neck and the second neck, respectively, (k) the first bottlecomprises a first lower portion, the second bottle comprises a secondlower portion and the first lower portion and the second lower portionhave a same height and width as seen from front and side views, (l) thesame height is about half a height of each bottle, (m) the first bottlecomprises: a grip portion comprising a panel, wherein a periphery of thepanel comprises: a top portion and a bottom portion that are recessedrelative to a surrounding portion of the grip portion, two side portionsthat are raised relative to the surrounding portion of the grip portion,and transitions between the top portion and the side portions andbetween the bottom portion and the side portions, (n) the panel issubstantially flat interior to the periphery, (o) the first bottlefurther comprises a second panel on an opposite side of the first bottlefrom the panel, the panel and the second panel being substantially thesame, (p) the first bottle further comprises a body that comprises thegrip portion, wherein the body is substantially rectangular from a topview, and/or (q) the panel is substantially planar.

Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a method ofarranging a first bottle and a second bottle, the first bottle having afirst display profile and a first side profile and the second bottlehaving a second side profile different from the first side profile and asecond display profile that is substantially the same as the firstdisplay profile, the method comprising: arranging the first bottle andthe second bottle adjacent one another such that a bottom of the firstbottle and a bottom of the second bottle are positioned in a commonplane, and orienting first bottle so that the first display profile isdisplayed, and orienting the second bottle so that the second displayprofile is displayed.

In examples, (a) the first side profile and the second side profile eachhave upper portions and lower portions, the upper portions aredifferent, and/or (b) the lower portions are substantially the same.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of this technology will becomeapparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of thisdisclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of thistechnology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front profile view of two bottles;

FIG. 2 is a side profile view of two bottles;

FIG. 3 is a top profile view of two bottles;

FIG. 4 is a front profile view of one bottle;

FIG. 5 is a side profile view of one bottle;

FIG. 6 is a top profile view of one bottle;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view of one bottle taken at 7-7 inFIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross sectional view of one bottle taken at 8-8in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross sectional view of one bottle taken at 9-9in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a top portion of a bottle;

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross sectional view of a bottle taken at 11-11 inFIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front view of a top portion of a bottle;

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross sectional view of a bottle taken at 13-13 inFIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is provided in relation to several exampleswhich may share common characteristics and features. It is to beunderstood that one or more features of any one example may becombinable with one or more features of the other examples. In addition,any single feature or combination of features in any of the examples mayconstitute additional examples.

As discussed herein, unless stated otherwise, all bottle volumes referto cold volumes. In order to achieve the cold volumes, containers may befilled with a greater volume of hot liquid which then achieves the lowerdesired cold volume upon cooling.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,575,321; 6,749,075; 7,004,342 and 7,350,658 disclose ahot-fillable, generally rectangular, plastic container with variousvacuum panels in top and bottom portions of the container. U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2010/0326951 discloses a hot-fillable,generally rectangular, plastic container with reinforced cornerportions. The subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,575,321, 6,749,075, 7,004,342and 7,350,658 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0326951are each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Any aspectdisclosed therein can be used in conjunction with the examples of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates two containers that are shown, e.g., arranged, as afront profile view, or display view, of a first bottle 100 and a secondbottle 300. The first bottle 100 and the second bottle 300 may beplastic, e.g. a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), hot-fillable orcold-fillable beverage container. Typically, a hot-fillable bottle willinclude one or more vacuum panels, while it is not necessary for coldfill bottles to include such vacuum panels. However, a hot-fillablebottle can be used for cold fill applications. The bottles may have afilling capacities of 64 oz., 60 oz., 96 oz., or smaller than 60 oz. orlarger than 96 oz., etc. The first bottle 100 is illustrated with afirst volume, e.g. 64 oz., and the second bottle 300 is illustrated witha second volume, e.g. 60 oz. Also, while described in conjunction withrectangular bottles, such features may also have application to othertypes of bottles.

The bottles 100, 300 include necks 130, 330 and body portions 140, 340that extend away from the necks 130, 330. The necks 130, 330 may becrystallized to have a substantially opaque appearance, as is well knownin the art. However, it is not necessary to provide a crystallized neck.The body portions 140, 340 include top portions 145, 345 and bottomportions 150, 350 that, in this example may be taller than the topportions 145, 345, although the bottom portions 150, 350 may be shorterthan the top portions 145, 345. The top portions 145, 345 and/or bottomportions 150, 350 may have vacuum deformation portions 155, 355. Base orheel portions 125, 325 are provided below the vacuum deformationportions 155, 355.

The bottles 100, 300 are manufactured, for example, using a blow-moldingprocess which is well known. During blowmolding, preforms (not shown)are expanded and assume the shape of an interior molding surface, i.e.,a mold (not shown), to form substantially transparent,biaxially-oriented bottles. The necks 130, 330 of the preforms are notexpanded and remain as the necks 130, 330 of the bottles 100, 300. Thenecks 130, 330 include threads and open mouths 135, 335 for receivingscrew-on caps (not shown) such as 38 mm or 43 mm caps. Other size capsmay be used as well. The lower portions of the preforms are expanded toform the body portions 140, 340 of the bottles 100, 300, including thetop portions 145, 345 and the bottom portions 150, 350.

The bottles 100, 300 include shoulder or dome portions 160, 360 and gripportions 165, 365 below the shoulder portions 160, 360. The gripportions 165, 365 are inwardly recessed into the body portions 140, 340at least at an upper, central portion of the grip portions 165, 365 soas to result in an overhang 400 that tends to prevent the bottles 100,300 from slipping out of a user's hand.

As is evident from FIG. 1, the bottles 100, 300 have front profiles thatare substantially the same, although they may be identical. The bottles100, 300 may have different features making up the front profile, yetthe front profiles could still be substantially the same or identical.For example, a centrally located feature (such as vacuum panel) couldprotrude on one bottle but be relatively more recessed on anotherbottle, resulting in different depths and/or volumes but the same frontprofile. Such differences might only be apparent in a side orperspective view or cross sectional view. Having substantially the samefront profiles is beneficial in that it helps consumers identify thebottles. However, different consumers require different volumes ofproduct within the bottles. With bottles that have substantially thesame front profile, but different volumes, a manufacturer can providebrand identification while meeting the need for different volumes, whilebottles can be differentiated, if necessary, using labels. Differentvolume bottles that have substantially the same front profile can beachieved by having bottles with different side profiles. The bottles100, 300 are shown with threads on the neck portions 130, 330. The type,location and orientation of the threads need not be identical for theprofiles of the bottles 100, 300 to be considered identical.

In addition to the front profiles being substantially the same, theentire front side (and/or rear side) of the bottles 100, 300 may verysimilar or identical.

FIG. 2 illustrates the bottles 100, 300 from a side view. As is evident,the bottles 100, 300 have side profiles that are different. Asillustrated, the bottom portions 150, 350 have substantially the sameside profiles whereas the side profiles of the top portions 145, 345 aredifferent. Although the bottom portions 150, 350 could have differentprofiles, keeping them the same or substantially the same has certainbenefits. For example, if the bottom portions 150, 350 are identical,the lower mold halves for the bottles 100, 300 may be identical, whichmay reduce capital expenditures for the molds. Similarly, if the bottomportions 150, 350 are substantially the same, manufacturing equipmentrelated to transport and handling may be the same for both bottles 100,300. For example, when the bottles are moved through a bottling orpacking facility, the bottom portions 150, 350 may move along the sameconveying system. Similarly, with the bottom portions 150, 350 beingsubstantially the same, similar packaging, such as cardboard cases witha number of bottles in a single package, may be dimensionally similar orthe same, again saving manufacturing costs. Also, with bottles havingthe same height, stacks of bottles with different volumes will have thesame height, which may provide benefits in storage or with handlingequipment. Similar portions of differently sized bottles also allows forcommon change parts for packaging lines where they contact the similarportions of the bottles. The similar portions of differently sizedbottles also allows for common secondary packaging such as labels,cases, trays, etc.

If the front profiles of the bottles 100, 300 and side profiles of thebottom portions 150, 350 are substantially the same, the side profilesof the top portions 145, 345 should be different. As shown in FIG. 2,the top portion 345 of the second bottle 300 is generally narrower thanthe top portion 145 of the first bottle 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom portions 150, 350 of the bottles100, 300 may have an internal volume of about 37 oz. for each bottle ifthe bottle 100 is a 64 oz. bottle and the bottle 300 is a 60 oz. bottle.Accordingly, the bottle 100 will have a top portion 145 that is about 27oz. whereas the bottle 300 will have a top portion that is about 23 oz.Alternatively, the bottom portion 350 of the bottle 300 may have avolume that is 100% of the volume of the bottom portion 150 of thebottle 100. The top portion 345 may have an internal volume that isbetween 80% and 90% of an internal volume of the top portion 145,between 84% and 86% of the top portion 145, or about 85% of the volumeof the top portion 145. Generally, both of the bottles 100, 300 may haveabout a 40%/60% split between their top portions 145, 345 and bottomportions 150, 350, respectively. Alternatively, the bottle 100 mayinclude about 42% of the total volume in the top portion 145 and about58% of the total volume in the bottom portion 150. The bottle 300 mayinclude about 36% of the total volume in the top portion 345 and about64% of the total volume in the bottom portion 350. The differences involumes of the top portions 145, 345, while having substantiallysimilar, approximately similar or identical front profiles, allows for abottle that looks identical to a bottle with a different volume whenviewed from the front.

FIG. 3 illustrates the bottles 100, 300 from a top view.

The bottles 100, 300 may be displayed in an advantageous manner. Forexample, the bottles 100, 300 may be placed and/or arranged on a commonsurface and/or plane, such as a shelf, or different surfaces, so thatthe front profiles of the bottles 100, 300 are visible. One of eachbottle 100 and bottle 300 may be displayed adjacent to or in contactwith one another or the bottles 100, 300 may be displayed relatively farpart. Similarly, many bottles 100 could be displayed together and manybottles 300 could be displayed together. Regardless of the number andrelative locations of the bottles 100 and bottles 300, by displaying thebottles 100, 300 so that the front, or display, profiles of each of thebottles 100, 300 are visible, a consumer can see the similaritiesbetween the bottles readily, which will reduce consumer confusionbecause the consumer can readily identify the profiles of the bottlesregardless of the internal volume of the bottles 100, 300.

As illustrated, the primary differences between the bottle 300 and thebottle 100 are the grip portions 165, 365 and the side profiles of theupper portions 145, 345. However, the grip portion 365 could also beapplied to the bottle 100.

FIG. 4 illustrates the bottle 300 from the front view. The grip portion365 includes a panel 370 that is illustrated as an oval shape, but couldbe any other shape, e.g. a square, a rectangle, a circle, a star, etc.The grip portion 365 is generally above a center of gravity R and belowa neck 330. The center of gravity R is generally located at or near atransition shoulder or upper label bumper 390, which transitions thebottle 300 between the top portion 345 and the bottom portion 350. Alower label bumper 425 is illustrated near the bottom of the bottle 300.The upper label bumper 390 and lower label bumper 425 delimit an area ofthe bottle where a wrap around label (not shown) may typically beapplied.

A periphery of the panel 370 includes two recessed portions 375 that arerecessed with respect to a surrounding portion of the grip portion 365(an overhang 400 and a ledge 405) and two raised portions 380 that areraised with respect to a surrounding portion of the grip portion 365. Inbetween the raised portions 380 and the recessed portions 375 are fourinflection points 385, e.g., four transitions. At the inflection points385, the periphery of the panel 370 transitions between one recessedportion 375 and one raised portion 380. Thus, the inflection points 385are at substantially a same height relative to the surrounding portionof the grip portion 365.

The panel 370 may include an integrally molded logo and/or be adapted toreceive an adhesive label. The panel 370 may include a logo, such as“Ocean Spray®” and/or the Ocean Spray® “wave”. The logo may include ananti-slip surface in the form of raised or embossed (depressed)lettering, logos, characters or other designs, which helps prevent thebottle 300 from slipping out of the user's fingers and thumb.

Further, in addition to or instead of using integrally formed lettering,designs or logos, the logo may be in the form of a label that isapplied, e.g., using an adhesive, to the grip portion. When applying anadhesive label, the panel 370 as illustrated provides certainadvantages. For example, by including one or more raised portions 375,it may be easier to more accurately place the label on the panel 370. Ifa machine is used to place the label, it may be easier for the machineto locate a raised edge as opposed to a recessed area. Also, a raisedportion may be advantageous in that there are not other surroundingstructures (such as raised portions) that could interfere withapplication of a label. Thus the overhang 400 and the ledge 405 togetherdefine a label wrap or application area.

Including a recessed portion 375 and/or overhang 400 may also beadvantageous in that a user's hand can grip the bottle 300 more surely.For example, if the bottle 300 is refrigerated and then left out in ahumid environment, condensation could make a surface of the bottle 300slippery. However, a recessed portion 375 can provide a ledge, shelf,ridge, etc. (overhang 400), that will not readily slip through theuser's hand.

Thus, by including both a raised portion 380 and a recessed portion 375,a label can be applied more easily while still allowing a user a suregrip on the grip portion 365. Also, the combination of a raised portion380 and a recessed portion 375 may provide improved or alternativestiffness. For example, the inflection points 385 may provide forlocations that are intentionally allowed to flex or hinge more so thanthe raised portion 380 and/or the recessed portion 375. Also, includingboth raised portions 380 and recessed portions 375 may provide improvedstiffness because, for example, the raised portion 380 may be moreresistant to inwardly applied forces whereas the recessed portion 375may be more resistant to outwardly applied forces or vise versa.

The panel 370 may also serve as a vacuum deformation panel. A vacuumdeformation panel is a structure that tends to accommodate at least aportion of internal forces tending to collapse the bottle 300 inwardlythat occur when the bottle 300 is filled with a liquid at an elevatedtemperature and subsequently cooled. For example, the material connectedto the raised portions 380 and the recessed portions 375 includematerial that will be relatively more resistant to a pressure exertednormal to the panel 370 because the material connected to the raisedportions 380 and the recessed portions 375 are at an angle to therelatively large surface area of the panel 375. For example, as shown inFIG. 8 (discussed in more detail below), material near the raisedportions 380 is at nearly a right angle to the panel 370, which will berelatively more resistant to forces tending to collapse the panel 370than the panel 370 itself.

In an example, the top portion 345 may be 40% or less of a total volumeof the bottle 300. In an example, the top portion 345 may be between 33%and 39% of a total volume of the bottle 300. In an example, the bottomportion 350 of the bottle 300 is at least 40% of a total height of thebottle 300. In an example, the bottom portion 350 of the bottle 300 isapproximately 48% of a height of the bottle 300. By including a bottlewith the percentages discussed above, the bottle 300 can be configuredto look substantially the same as the bottle 100 from a front view,while having a different volume.

FIG. 5 illustrates the bottle 300 from a side view. As can be seen inFIG. 5, the lower recessed portion 375 is recessed relative to thesurrounding portion of the grip portion 365 by a distance D_(A1) and theupper recessed portion 375 is recessed relative to the surroundingportion of the grip portion 365 by a distance D_(A2). In an example,D_(A1) is 5-15 mm and D_(A2) is 1-10 mm. In another example, D_(A1) is10-14 mm and D_(A2) is 2-5 mm. In another example, D_(A1) is about 11.3mm and D_(A2) is about 3.8 mm. Also evident from FIG. 5, the raisedportion 380 is raised relative to a surrounding portion of the gripportion 365 by a distance D_(E). In an example, D_(E) is 1-8 mm. Inanother example, D_(E) is 2-6 mm. In another example, D_(E) is about 3.7mm.

As is evident from FIGS. 4 and 5, the bottom portion 350 may havesubstantially vertical walls.

FIG. 6 illustrates the bottle 300 from a top view. In the top view, tworaised portions 380, one recessed portion 375 and two inflection points385 are visible for each panel 370.

FIG. 7 illustrates a vertical cross section taken through the gripportion 365 (as shown in FIG. 4). For each panel 370, two recessedportions 375 are visible, along with the respective amounts that theyare recessed (D_(A1), D_(A2)). Also evident from FIG. 7, the panels 370are generally flat in a vertical direction. However, the panels 370could also be convex or slightly convex in the vertical direction. Ifthe panels 370 are convex or slightly convex, the panels 370 will bemore rigid than if the panels 370 are perfectly flat.

The panel 370 also forms angles α and β with the ledge 405 and theoverhang 400, respectively. In an example, α and β are greater than orequal to 90° and less than 180°. In another example, α and β are between135° and 165°. In another example, α is between 143° and 149° and β isbetween 154° and 160°. In another example, α is about 146° and β areabout 157°. As would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill, α and β donot have to be equal and can be chosen based upon the needs of aparticular design. In FIG. 7, α and β are shown along 7-7 of FIG. 4 (atthe midpoint of the width of the panel 370). As is apparent from theremaining figures, α and β may have different values if measured atlocations other than along 7-7, or they may remain the same.

The shape of the ledge 405 is due, at least in part, to the differencesbetween the dimensions D_(W1) and D_(W2). These dimensions will alsodetermine, to a great extent, the volume of the upper portion 345. Forexample, the greater the difference between D_(W1) and D_(W2), thesmaller the volume of the upper portion 345 will be. In an example,D_(W1) is 90-115 mm. In another example, D_(W1) is 100-105 mm. Inanother example, D_(W1) is about 103.5 mm. In an example, D_(W2) is115-140 mm. In another example, D_(W2) is 122-129 mm. In anotherexample, D_(W2) is about 125.9 mm. Also, as can be seen in FIG. 7, theupper portion 345 generally tapers from the ledge 405 to the neck 330following an angle defined between the panels 370, where each panel 370forms an angle γ measured from vertical. Thus, by decreasing D_(W1), thepanels 370 will become closer to being parallel, decreasing the volumeof the upper portion 345. In an example, γ is between 0° and 30°. Inanother example, γ is between 0° and 20°. In another example, γ isbetween 4° and 12°. In another example, γ is about 8°. Although γ isillustrated as being equal on both the left and right sides of FIG. 7, γmay have different values on the left and right sides as may be dictatedby the needs of a particular design.

The ledges 405 are defined largely by D_(A1), D_(A2) and α. Asillustrated, the bottle 300 transitions from vertical, via a curved orrounded portion 410, to a straight portion of the ledge 405. Thus, theledges 405 may transition continuously from the panel 370 to anoutermost vertical wall 415 of the bottle by way of a relativelystraight portion, adjacent to the panel 370, to the rounded portion 410that smoothly transitions to the outermost vertical wall 415 of thebottle. However, the rounded portion 410 could a more abrupt or angulartransition. In an example, the rounded portion 410 has a radius between10 and 22 mm. In another example, the rounded portion 410 has a radiusbetween 14 and 18 mm. In another example, the rounded portion 410 has aradius of about 16 mm.

FIG. 8 illustrates a horizontal cross section taken through the gripportion 365 (as shown in FIG. 4). The cross section is generallyrectangular, with the panels 370 being located on longer sides of therectangle; however, the panels 370 could also be located on the shortersides of the rectangle depending on the volume requirements of a givenbottle. Of course, the rectangle could also be square. For each panel370, two raised portions 380 are visible, along with the amount they areraised (D_(E)). Also evident from FIG. 8, the panels 370 are generallyflat in a horizontal direction, although the panels could also be convexor slightly convex in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 9 illustrates a horizontal cross section taken through the bottomportion 350 (as shown in FIG. 4). Although the cross section is shown asrectangular, other shapes, such as a square, could be provided as well.

Although the cross sections illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 are both shownas generally rectangular, they could have different shapes. For example,the cross section in FIG. 9 could be square while the cross section inFIG. 8 could be rectangular. Similarly, the cross section shown in FIG.9 could be circular or oval and the cross section shown in FIG. 8 couldbe generally rectangular or square.

In an example, the cross section shown in FIG. 8 is between 60%-90%(ratio between 6/10 and 9/10) of the area of the cross section shown inFIG. 9. In another example, the cross section shown in FIG. 8 is between70%-80% (ratio between 7/10 and 8/10) of the area of the cross sectionshown in FIG. 9. In another example, the cross section shown in FIG. 8is about 75% (ratio of about 3/4) of the area of the cross section shownin FIG. 9

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a top portion of a bottle 300 withfeatures not illustrated in the figures described above. Although notillustrated, the features discussed below related to FIGS. 10-13 couldalso be incorporated into the bottle 100. In particular, a firstvertical rib 500 and a second vertical rib 510 are illustrated. Theseribs extend from a bottom edge or boundary of the grip portion 365through the upper label bumper 390 and towards the vacuum deformationportion 355 (illustrated as a panel). The area between the grip portion365 through and including the upper label bumper 390 may be referred toas a shoulder 520. The ribs are horizontally and inwardly offsetrespectively from outermost horizontal edges of the grip portion 365.FIG. 11 illustrates the depth of the first vertical rib 500. The secondvertical rib 510 may have a similar depth. The depth may besubstantially coincident with a surface of the bottom portion 355.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are similar to FIGS. 10 and 11 except for the shoulder520 between the first vertical rib 500 and the second vertical rib 510.In FIG. 12, the shoulder 520 is illustrated has having a height (along avertical direction of the bottle 300) inside the ribs 500, 510 that isless than outside the ribs 500, 510. In FIG. 13, the shoulder 520 isillustrated has having a thickness (along a horizontal direction ordirection substantially perpendicular to the vacuum deformation portion355) inside the ribs 500, 510 that is less than outside the ribs 500,510.

While the present technology has been described in connection with whatare presently considered to be the most practical and preferredexamples, it is to be understood that the technology is not to belimited to the disclosed examples, but on the contrary, is intended tocover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included withinthe spirit and scope of the technology.

1. A series of bottles, comprising: a first bottle with a first volumeand a first front profile; and a second bottle with a second volume anda second front profile, wherein the first volume and the second volumeare different and the first front profile and the second front profileare substantially the same.
 2. The series of bottles according to claim1, wherein the first front profile and the second front profile areapproximately the same.
 3. The series of bottles according to claim 1,wherein the first bottle comprises a first side profile, the secondbottle comprises a second side profile, and the first side profile andthe second side profile are different.
 4. The series of bottlesaccording to claim 3, wherein the first bottle comprises a firstsubstantially rectangular profile when viewed from a top view, and thefirst front profile corresponds to a longer side of the firstsubstantially rectangular profile, the second bottle comprises a secondsubstantially rectangular profile when viewed from a top view, and thesecond front profile corresponds to a longer side of the secondsubstantially rectangular profile.
 5. The series of bottles according toclaim 3, wherein the first front profile and the first side profile aresubstantially perpendicular to one another, and the second front profileand the second side profile are substantially perpendicular to oneanother.
 6. The series of bottles according to claim 3, wherein a firstlower portion of the first side profile and a second lower portion ofthe second side profile are substantially the same.
 7. The series ofbottles according to claim 6, wherein the first lower portion extendsfrom a bottom of the first bottle to substantially half a height of thefirst bottle, and the second lower portion extends from a bottom of thesecond bottle to substantially half a height of the second bottle. 8.The series of bottles according to claim 3, wherein a first lowerportion of the first side profile and a second lower portion of thesecond side profile are identical.
 9. The series of bottles according toclaim 8, wherein the first lower portion extends from a bottom of thefirst bottle to substantially half a height of the first bottle, and thesecond lower portion extends from a bottom of the second bottle tosubstantially half a height of the second bottle.
 10. The series ofbottles according to claim 1, wherein the first bottle comprises a firstneck and a first body, the second bottle comprises a second neck and asecond body, and the first body and the second body are substantiallyrectangular along vertical extents thereof when viewed from above thefirst neck and the second neck, respectively.
 11. The series of bottlesaccording to claim 1, wherein the first bottle comprises a first lowerportion, the second bottle comprises a second lower portion and thefirst lower portion and the second lower portion have a same height andwidth as seen from front and side views.
 12. The series of bottlesaccording to claim 11, wherein the same height is about half a height ofeach bottle.
 13. The series of bottles according to claim 1, wherein thefirst bottle comprises: a grip portion comprising a panel, wherein aperiphery of the panel comprises: a top portion and a bottom portionthat are recessed relative to a surrounding portion of the grip portion,two side portions that are raised relative to the surrounding portion ofthe grip portion, and transitions between the top portion and the sideportions and between the bottom portion and the side portions.
 14. Theseries of bottles according to claim 13, wherein the panel issubstantially flat interior to the periphery.
 15. The series of bottlesaccording to claim 13, further comprising a second panel on an oppositeside of the first bottle from the panel, the panel and the second panelbeing substantially the same.
 16. The series of bottles according toclaim 13, further comprising a body that comprises the grip portion,wherein the body is substantially rectangular from a top view.
 17. Theseries of bottles according to claim 13, wherein the panel issubstantially planar.
 18. A method of arranging a first bottle and asecond bottle, the first bottle having a first display profile and afirst side profile and the second bottle having a second side profiledifferent from the first side profile and a second display profile thatis substantially the same as the first display profile, the methodcomprising: arranging the first bottle and the second bottle adjacentone another such that a bottom of the first bottle and a bottom of thesecond bottle are positioned in a common plane, and orienting firstbottle so that the first display profile is displayed, and orienting thesecond bottle so that the second display profile is displayed.
 19. Themethod according to claim 18, wherein the first side profile and thesecond side profile each have upper portions and lower portions, theupper portions are different.
 20. The method according to claim 19,wherein the lower portions are substantially the same.